HOPHEAD: Where the (bleep) is Jeff Bagby?

Back in December, when Pizza Port was racking up medals at the Great American Beer Festival, the largest brewing competition in the country, a number of employees donned T-shirts that read, "Who the (bleep) is Jeff Bagby?"

It was a fun way to pay respect to the brewpub chain's head of brewing operations, one of North County's most prolific brewers.

But if those shirts were printed today, they might read, "Where the (bleep) is Jeff Bagby?"

After working as the head brewer at Pizza Port Carlsbad for six years, Bagby left in December to start his own brewpub, a highly anticipated opening because of his reputation for making award-winning beers ---- Pizza Port Carlsbad was named the GABF Large Brewpub of the Year for each of the past three years under Bagby's watch.

It's been nearly seven months since he left his Port post. And while today he's closer to realizing his dream, he estimates he's still at least a year away from tapping the maiden keg.

"Two weeks after I left (Pizza Port), I was getting questions like, 'Where's your beer?'" Bagby said. "Some people don't realize how much goes into building, designing, acquiring a space and getting open. Sometimes it can take years. But I appreciate that people are interested and want to know."

He said he's been getting so many questions about when and where his brewpub will open, he started a website ---- www.bagbybeer.com --- to keep his fans up to date.

Until recently, it appeared Bagby, 38, was going to start his solo project in Encinitas. It was an ideal location for Bagby, who grew up there and would have owned the only brewery in town.

He had chosen a location in the center of town on Highway 101, but Bagby said the deal died when his prospective landlord opted for corporate offices instead of a brewpub. Plus, he said he never felt the city was that enthusiastic about having a brewery in its city limits.

"It was attractive, just being able to start a company in my hometown," he said. "But it fell through. Encinitas is a different town. There are a lot of community groups that don't want to see any more establishments that serve alcohol."

The San Dieguito High grad has since expanded his considerations to other North County locations, including Oceanside, San Marcos, Carlsbad, and Vista. He said he's been searching sites from 5,000 to 10,000 square feet in size ---- he plans to start on a 15-barrel system --- and is hoping to nail down a location by the end of the summer.

"We want to be North County coastal," said Bagby, who got married in June and now lives in Vista. "We want a community-based restaurant and brewery where the locals can come and the brewery supports local groups and has events that help the community --- something the city can get behind."

Bagby, who worked for Stone Brewing Co., White Labs, and Oggi's Pizza & Brewing Co. before arriving at Pizza Port in 2005, said his brewpub will center on a simple concept: good food complemented by good beer.